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People with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing depression. 

According to the CDC, diabetes patients are two to three times more likely to experience depression.

In a recent study, scientists investigated the potential mechanisms underlying the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of drugs like dulaglutide, a member of the same chemical family as semaglutide. 

Their findings suggest that dulaglutide may reverse metabolic damage in the brain caused by chronic stress, particularly in the hippocampus, a brain region associated with depression.

Ozempic, also known as semaglutide, is a medication primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. 

Ozempic works by stimulating insulin production, reducing blood sugar levels and promoting weight loss. 

The influence of dulaglutide on metabolic pathways

The study involved 60 mice subjected to various stress-inducing conditions for four weeks. Following this, some mice received biweekly injections of high or low doses of dulaglutide, while others received saline injections as a control.

Results revealed that dulaglutide influenced around 64 different chemicals associated with four metabolic pathways. It restored lipid levels crucial for neuronal function disrupted by stress and increased levels of amino acids like aspartic acid, glutamic acid and arginine, which are often low in people with depression. 

Additionally, dulaglutide boosted molecules involved in ATP production, the cell's primary energy source, suggesting it countered stress-induced damage via this pathway.

The use of dulaglutide resulted in elevated levels of niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, and picolinic acid, a derivative of tryptophan, both of which have potential antidepressant properties. 

The researchers stated how their findings provided valuable insights into the metabolic mechanisms underlying the potential antidepressant effects of dulaglutide. 

Continuing studies in the matter may allow for novel therapeutic strategies for depression.